Donor surge gives Soares cash-race lead

Corporate givers lift DA to $2,000 margin over challenger Lee Kindlon

Updated 11:18 pm, Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Attorney Lee Kindlon, who is running for Albany County District Attorney. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union archive)

Attorney Lee Kindlon, who is running for Albany County District...

Albany County District Attorney David Soares poses for a portrait during an interview in which he talks about his reelection campaign, on Tuesday May 15, 2012 in Albany, NY. (Philip Kamrass / Times Union )

ALBANY — With less than a month to go before the Democratic primary, District Attorney David Soares has $2,000 more in campaign funds than challenger Lee Kindlon — the incumbent's first lead in the race.

The latest campaign filings show corporate donors funneled $26,000 to Soares' re-election campaign within the last week, leaving Soares with a closing balance of $28,942.

Kindlon's closing balance is $26,879.

The primary is Sept. 13. The filings show contributions at the 32-day pre-primary mark, according to the state Board of Elections.

Soares' 11th-hour corporate donations, delivered Aug. 8, all have ties to BBL Construction Services at 302 Washington Ave. Extension in Albany. Two of the donors, Warehouse 19 LLC ($4,000) and Ridgehill LP ($2,000) have the same address as the company. Two other contributors, Clifton Associates 4 LLC ($4,000) and Flanagan Associates Real Estate LLC ($4,000), have same the address in Hazlet, N.J.

Public records show Clifton Associates 4 LLC was previously located at BBL's address.

Two more donors, GX470 Associates LLC ($4,000) and MDG Mill Creek ($4,000), are both located at the same address in Clifton Park that is home to Marc D. Goldstein, director of real estate for Columbia Development, a BBL sister company. Also contributing were Stonewall Hardscapes LLC ($4,000), based in Wolcott, Vt. It is owned by a Joshua Goldstein, who has lived in the real estate director's house.

In a statement, Soares' campaign said: "David Soares has a great interest in ensuring people's quality of life, decreasing crime and cleaning up urban areas. This leads to economic development like in Albany's Park South area, hence the broad-based interest in his candidacy from labor unions and developers."

Kindlon's campaign, in turn, blasted the donations.

"Whether it's drug reform, organized labor or now campaign finance reform, David Soares has continuously turned his back on the progressive community that helped elect him in 2004. And now I guess we know the price tag for David's so-called 'progressive' values — $26,000," stated Eddie Ayala, Kindlon's campaign manager.

Soares also received $500 from attorney and Occupy Albany protester Susan Weber; $200 from former NYSUT Executive Director Alan Lubin, as well as donations from Soares' chief assistant district attorney, David Rossi ($100 to equal $600 in total support) and County Legislator Lucille McKnight ($100), among others.